Washing-machine.



L. R. ENGLISH. WASHING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 22, 1909. 61 l Patented. Jan. 25, 1910.

HSHEET V V T 1.

War-4 L. R. ENGLISH.

WASHING MACHINE. i Y APPLICATION IILEiJ MAY 22, 1909. 94?,61 1. Patented Jan. 25, 1910.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

lnven'toz Witwmraeo I L. R. ENGLISH. WASHING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 22, 1909.

947, 11; Patented Jan.25,1910.

6K E Q V 3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

WASHING-MhOHINE.

eaaeii.

Specification of Letters ratent.

Patented Jan. 25, il'tlilltl.

Application filed May 2%, 1909. Serial No. dmfifit.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Loner; colt. ltlncmsn,

a citizen of the United States, residing at Baltimore, in the State of Maryland, have invented certain new and useful. improve ments in Washing-Machines', of which the following a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in washing machines such for example as are applicable for use in laundries and particularly adapted for washing clothes, linens or other fabrics.

Une object of the invention is to provide an improved C(JllStl'lltjtlOll of machine that tively small area and to provide said sheetmetal covering with exterior means for accuinulating and forcing water through some of the perforations in ets or streams to the interior of the cylinder during revolution of thelatter and permitting the water in the cylinder to simultaneously pass outwardlythrough other perforations in said covering. A further ob ect of the invention 18 to provide an iu'iproved cylinder for washing machines having one or more compartments and aplurahty of ndividual pockets for each compartnient,-so1d pockets PI'OJOCUUg 'circinnferentially from the outer side of the cylinder covering so as to continuously and simultaneously feed air and water into and discharge the same from the compartment or compartments and thereby maintain a constant circulation of the water to and from the compartment without regard to the di' rection in which the cylinder may be revolved.

Another object is to )rovide an lI'IIPK'OVtKl construction of water pocket for attachment to the perforated covering of the cylin der for accumulating and driving the air and. Water through the perforations in jets into the cylinder and in direct contact with the articles undergoing washing.

another-object is to provide an improved washing machine cylinder having a perforated circumferential surface for the simultaneous inlet and outlet of Water with a plurality of pockets secured against and pro jecting outwirdly from said surface over some of the said perforations and projecting tangentially therefrom, and some of the pockets being arranged with. their openings facing in one direction while the openings of other pockets are faced in an opposite direction.

Another object is to provide an improved construction of cylinder with a perforated circumferential surface and having tangentially-projecting spaced-apart rows of poclc ets secured against the outer side of said perforated surface which are larger at oneend than at the other,-the larger end of the pockets being open and the smaller end thereof closed and the pockets serving to dip up the water and deliver it into the cylinder through the perforations in a plurality of spaced-apart streams.

A further object is to produce a cylinder having a perforated circumferential surface with a plurality of separate and individual pockets attached thereto on the outer side and over some of said perforations and arranged to etl'ect a continuous inlet of water and air to the cylinder no matter in which direction the cylinder may be rotated.

With these andother objects in view the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which,

Figure 1 illustrates a washing machine ;onstructed in accordance with the inven-. tion,the outer casing being broken away to show the inner revolving cylinder in side elevation. Fig. 2, is an end elevation of the ports, 3. This shell or case is also provided with a sliding door 4 by means of which access maybe had to the interior thereof.

The shell is preferably formed in two Cir parts or halves which may be held together in any suitable manner, such for example as by means of straps or hands,

The supports, 3, for the shell are located at opposite ends of the latter and are provided with inwardly extending bars, 6, which converge and form central bearings, 7, at each end of the shell.

A cylinder, 8, is located within the shell and is provided with circular heads or ends, 9, to which suitable plates, 10, are bolted on the exterior. These plates have trunnions or short shafts, 11, which project through suitable perforations in the ends, 2, of the outer shell and are sustained in bearings, 7, on the end supports so the cylinder may be revolved within the shell. in the present instance the shafts, 11, by which the cylinder is sustained, project through and beyond the bearings, 7, and carry comparatively large gears, '13, which are driven from a main horizontal shaft, "14, through pinions, 15, and small gears, 16, as clearly seen in Fig. 2.

In driving or rotating the cylinder it is desirable that power be applied to both ends thereof, hence the gears, 13; pinions, l5, and. gears, 16, are provided at both ends of the shell and are all driven from the one horizontal shaft, let.

For reasons presently to be described, the cylinder is to be revolved a few revolutions in one direction and then its movement is reversed so as to give it a few turns or revolutions in a reverse direction. To effect this I have provided one end of the shaft, 14, with three pulleys, 17, 18, and, 19, respectively. The pulleys, 17, and, 19, are both loose pulleys while the pulley, 18, is tight on the said shaft. Two driving belts, 9.0, and, 21, are also provided one traveling in one direction and the other traveling in a reverse direction which is readily accomplished by twisting one of the belts. A belt shifter is also provided and while its construction may vary, in the present instance it comprises a rod, 22, capable of movement horizontally and carrying a head, 23, with shifter arms, 2%, and, 25, extending laterally from opposite sides thereof and over or partly around the pulleys. The shifter arm, 24, engages the belt, 20, while the arm, engages the belt, 21. The rod, 22, and head, 23, are sustained by a bracket, 26, which in turn is carried by one of the end supports, 3, as clearly shown in Fig. 1. The shifting of the belts is accomplished automatically by means of worm gears, 27, and, 28, which are driven by the horizontal shaft. 14-. and through the IHOVQlllBllfOf a rock lever, 2%), which is rocked by means of a lug, 30. carried by the revolving gear, 2 The upper end of the rock lever engages a collar or head, 31, on the rod, 22, and when thrown, moves said rod back or forth as the case may be, thus carrying the head and shifter arms with it. It will therefore be. understood that as the gear, 28. revolves slowly it will rock the lever, 29. thereby shifting the belts and reverse the direction of revolution of the cylinder.

The improved cylinder to contain the article to be washed is best illustrated in Figs. 3, 1- and 5 of the drawings which will now be described. In the present instance the cylinder is provided with the two ends or heads. 9, and also with a central vertical partition 32, which divides the same into two compartments. It is obvious however that the number of partitions employed is immaterial as the operation of washing is precisely the same in all the compartments.

The periphery or circumference of each head, 9, and also of the partition, 32, is provided in the present instance with a plurality of flat faces, 33, so that an angle or bend is formed between each two adjoining faces. A plurality of cross bars or ribs, 84, extend horizontally between the heads and with the heads form an open frame or support. Obviously the crossbars may extend from one head to the other or they may extend only from a head to the interposed partition. These bars have their outermost surface tiush with the peripheries of the heads and partition and project inwardly from said surfaces for a purpose presently to be explained.

A covering, 35, is provided for the cylinder. and in. practice consists of sheet-metal plates which follow closely the contour of the peripheries of the heads and partition; thus producing flat faces, 36, between adjacent ribs or cross-bars. These plates are provided with numerous small perforations. 37, through which water and air may freely pass or circulate back and forth between the revolving cylinder and the outer shell or casing. Suitable bands or rings, 88, of metal encircle the perforated covering and bind or hold the same against the heads and intermediate partition.

A door, 39. is provided in the cylinder and is i'nfe'ferably hung on hinges, 40, while suitable spring bolts, til, at the ends thereof serve to hold the same closed. By means of the door access may be had to the interior of the cylinder for the deposition or withdrawal of articles undergoing the launderingoperation.

It will be understood that the articles to be washed are deposited in the cylinder and the'latter then. closed. During the washing opcr. tion the cylinder will be revolved and the cross-bars or ribs will cause the articles to be tumbled in the cylinder while water and air will circulate by flowing in and out through the perforatitnis in the sheet or plates, lit is very desirable that the circulation of the water and air through the revolving cylinder and the casing be accomllll These pockets are eaten plished with certainty as this constant circulation ett'ects very desirableresults, and although the articles undergoing the wash my;- operation are carried up by the crossbars, 34, and then dropped, they tend to a consid ,tlblQ extent to lie flat. against the inner surface of the plates 35, and to a greater or less extent seal the perforations, and thus hinder the proper circulation of water between the. shell and cylinder. To assist the bars to overcome this, it provide the circumference of the cylinder with a plurality of pockets or scoops, 42, and, 4:3, of a peculiar construction and arrangement. rigidly secured against the outer surfaces of the sheet or flat plates and over some of the perforations. 37, thereof, and have laterally-projecting flat bottoin flanges. "hi": an outWardly-extending inclined side wall, to; and an inclined top, 46. \Vhen in position the flat bottom flanges of the pockets will lie close against the flat portions of the sheet or plates, and the inclined tops, 46-, extend tangentially from the outer surface of the plates and beyond the heads and partitions so that the smaller closed end, 417, of the pockets will seat close against the plate while the larger open end thereof will project outwardly from said plate.

The pockets are small as ronu'iared to the distance between the heads or between a head and a partition so that aplurality of them maybe attached to the sheet side-byside over some of the perforations and in a horizontal row.

lly reference to Figs. '1 and 4- it will be noted that in the present instance the pockets are arrangei'l in two s ts or series,--one set being denoted by-the numeral, 4:2, and the other set being designated, 43. While ,in the present instance the two series of pockets are arranged in rows at opposite ends of each con'ipartment it is obvious that they may be otherwise arranged and that the number of such rows may vary.

During); the operation of the'machine I provide the hereinbefore described driving inechal'iisn'i that will cause the cylinder to be revolved for a limited number of revolutions in one direction, then reversed and driven for a limited number of revolutions iu-the opposite direction. The object of thusaaiversing the revolution of the cylinder is to prevent the tangling' of the articles of clothing which is found to take place to a serious extent if the cylinder is revolved contini'iously in one direction, and another object inireversing the direction of revolution is to ii'nprove the circulation of thewatcr. As the revolution of the cylinderis to be periodically changed, l have arranged the pockets so that one set or series of pockets will have their openings presented in one direction while a uother series of pockets will. have their openings presented in a reverse tilt direction so that when the cylinder revolves in one dirertion one set of pockets will arcuiuulalc :inddir ct the water through some perforations into the cylinder while water may be discharged through other perforations and other pockets from the cylinder. Upon a lQVQWiil of the cylinder revolutions the series of pockets that before received the water will then discharge the water. This arrangem nt of pockets on the perforated cylinder covering is particularly effective in practice in producing a rapid the'cylinder, whether there be one or more con'ipartments. and also whether the revolution of the cylinder is in one or the other di rection one series of pockets will direct water and air from the outer chamber through the perforations and into the revolving cylinder cmnpartment' or compartments in lets or i streams, while at the same moment, water and air will pass out from the same compartment through other perforations and pockets and therefore a continuous and simultaneous inlet and outlet ofv air and water is edected.

The provision of reverse'ly arranged pockets on the outer side or surface of the. cylinder aids in discharging the waterfrom. the cylinder as well as-its admission thereto,-fori example if the cylinder be revolved in the direction that will cause all the pockets of the series, 4-2, to take up water the tapering pockets of the series, 43, during their passage through the water in the lower part of the shell. will divide or make a trough through the water in the shell and thus relieve the perforations beneath the series of pockets, 453, free of external pressure and thereby enable the water to readily pass outwardly. Thus it will be seen that the admission of water through pockets, 42, in a plurality of vertical planes and the simultaneous exit of water through pockets, 43, also 111 a plurality of planes causes thorough and complete circulation of water at all times in the several compartments no matter in which being turned.

In practice I have found it desirable to arrange all the pockets on the swinging; door in one and the same direction to prevent crushing the pockets immediately at the rear, of the door when the latter is sw'ung back ward.

For convenience in admitting water to the shell it provide an inlet pipe, 48, having a direction the cylinder is mete "covering a l and secured the surface of the cylinder and said pool vii being; arranged in a plurality of rows 2 n1 dlilereni; vertical planes with the ceilings adjacentrows "ion with on ontar cneing mednpnrt vertical el. CIOSS-lM-IS connectinq' end a oe li ving a perforated end, b about the crossbars betw s21 .d heads; two series oi? independent poclreis attached to the periorextcd metal covering between the hoods and arranged in rows in dille ein; vertical planes and one series of pockets op g; in one di rection while Dockets facing in o};

2. The CD1 of a cylinder heads with no the heads,

the other i opens in a; reverse direction said pockets be ing arranged in horizontal rows between two adjacent cross bz'ns.

3. The combination with a casing, of a cylinder comprising rcrticr. spaced-apart I heads cross-bars connecting the heads and a: metal covering encircling the croeebars mid having perforations therein between said cross-bars; a plurality of pockets having one I end larger than the other and Said larger end being open and said pockets being secured against the metal covering between the cross-bars and over perforations and arranged in vertical planes between the heads whereby the larger open ends of the pockets will direct water and air in jets into the cylinder between the said cross-bars while the latter tumble the articles that are being washed.

l. A VlSlllllg machine cylinder having spncednpnrt vertical heads, a plurality of croeslmrs extending horizontally between and connecting the heads and the outer Side of each bar being substantially flush with the circumference of the heads, a metal covering encircling the crhss-bars and having perforations extending therei'l'irmigh between said biil'o, individual pockets nttnched to the metal covering in horizontal rows between the cross-lmrs and heads and projecting outwardly beyond the circuniferenhe of the heads, and some pockets in a given horizontal row between two crosslmrs opening only in one direction while other pockets in the same row and between the same two cross-bars open only in a reverse direction. in testimony whereof I ziliix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

LORENZO R. lQNGLlSl-l. st itnesses Gamers B MANN, J12, FERDINAND Voor. 

